The Future of Mercedes-Benz Cars

Mercedes-Benz cars occupy an interesting place in history. The
company is inseparable from the past, dominates the present, and is eagerly
anticipating a bright future. Make no mistake, however; they’re not simply
sitting back and waiting for what comes next. They’re actively shaping it with
the help of an initiative called CASE. Here’s what that means for luxury car
drivers and your local Mercedes-Benz dealership.

Tech magazine Wired
goes in-depth on CASE via an interview with the improbably-named Wilko Stark.
Mr. Stark is the Vice President of Strategy at Daimler AG and heads up the
company’s CASE (connectivity, autonomous, shared and services, and electric
mobility) division.

Here’s his brief, in brief.

?Diversification:
Mobility means more than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and other models. It’s also
an aggressive push into other areas, including telematics, electric vehicles,
ride sharing, subscription services, and autonomous driving.

?Accuracy:
Each of the elements in the above-mentioned portfolio has to pull off a fine
balancing act. On one hand, each business unit needs to make sense in its own
right. On the other, each should also harmonize, and each must work seamlessly
with the company’s vehicles.

?Flexibility:
Stark acknowledges that big change is coming to the automotive industry, and he
looks forward to being in the driver’s seat. He emphasizes that Daimler chooses
to see these changes as opportunities rather than threats, the better to
capitalize on them.

?Foresight:
Some technologies, like autonomous tech and EVs, are nascent but proven. The
harder challenge is figuring out which other technologies, like fuel cell
vehicles, will emerge next.

?Heritage:
Even as it looks to the future, CASE is well aware of its other mandate:
preserving the extensive history -- and the major expectations -- that come
with the world’s first luxury performance brand. That means the driver always
comes first.

At Mercedes-Benz of Owings Mills, we can’t always tell what the
future holds. But we can say this: right now, it’s an exciting time to be a
Mercedes-Benz dealer, or to drive a new Mercedes-Benz car. Get in on the fun by
getting into a Mercedes-Benz CLA
250 at 9727 Reisterstown Road today.